Let’s talk about hygiene. Not the awkward middle school conversation about the importance of showering, brushing teeth, and wearing deodorant – although that is a really important conversation, too!
No. Let’s talk about hygienic teaching – the type of teaching that Paul encourages his student Timothy to pursue in 1 Timothy. Paul instructs Timothy:
Teach and urge these duties. 3 Whoever teaches otherwise and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that is in accordance with godliness, 4 is conceited, understanding nothing, and has a morbid craving for controversy and for disputes about words. 1 Ti 6:2–4 (NRSV).
Paul tells Timothy to teach “sound words.” The Greek for “sound” here is the same word from which we get hygiene. Timothy, teach “healthy” words. At first glance, it might seem like an odd thing to say – how can words be healthy or unhealthy? Yet clearly in Paul’s mind, words or teachings can be healthy or ill. Unhealthy words give birth to division; healthy words give birth to godliness.
Eugene Peterson reflects on these words from Paul in a chapter called “Timothy: Taking Over in Ephesus” in a book co-written with Marva Dawn: The Unnecessary Pastor. This is what he says about healthy words:
…Timothy is given a mandate to teach in a way that brings health to people. Words in Ephesus have gotten sick; the ‘godless chatter’ in Ephesus is infecting the souls of people with disease. It is important not to see Timothy as a defender of orthodoxy, as someone who argues for the truth of the gospel. He is a teacher responsible for speaking in such a way that people get healthy again.
And later he writes,
Words are important. Words and living are the heads and tails of the same coin. When words are wrong – diseased – they cause illness; they infect the soul. Sound, healthy words equal godly living.
As a teacher, these are important words to hear. Matter of fact, they are important words for anyone who instructs, guides, preaches, or parents. Or anyone else who might use words from time to time.
Are my words healthy? Do they lead to wellness? Do they lead to godliness? Or do they lead to division, envy, malicious talk, strife, and constant friction?
Hopefully my teaching and my words in general will be healthy words so that you won’t have to pull me aside and have that awkward pre-teen conversation about good hygiene.
